HOF Induction

[JR Boucicaut 3797]

Good article by Brooks - makes total sense.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/11122007/sport...9748.htm?page=0

November 12, 2007 --

TORONTO - The next time the commissioner of the NHL boasts about the coverage the league receives from its national cable network, Versus, he needs to be directed to tonight's viewing schedule, which will leave hockey fans across the United States in the dark even as Mark Messier, Scott Stevens, Ron Francis, Al MacInnis and Jim Gregory are inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Instead of televising the induction ceremony, Versus will be all over the critical and compelling match in Florida between the Hurricanes and the Panthers. Well, it'll be there.

Instead of televising the ceremonies on a delayed basis following the Showdown in Sunrise, Versus will run something called, "WEC Wrekcage."

Gary Bettman and the Board of Governors must be so proud.

It isn't, however, only Versus that's conspiring against both hockey and good sense here. By scheduling five games on a night that should remain dark, the NHL essentially guaranteed that the mundane playing of early-season matches would in large part overshadow a marquee event like the Hall of Fame inductions.

While Stevens, the granite face of the Devils franchise who sacrificed his well-being in order to win a third Stanley Cup in 2003 by playing through a concussion, is receiving his sport's ultimate honor, his former team will be playing in Pittsburgh.

While Francis, captain of both the Hartford/Carolina clubs as well as Pittsburgh, is enshrined, the Hurricanes will be in Florida and the Penguins will play at home.

The Hall of Fame itself, as closed and secret a society as Yale's Skull and Bones, hasn't yet moved into the 21st Century, either. The ceremony will take place in an auditorium so small that the inductees are forced to limit the allotment of tickets for family and friends much like a bride and groom limiting invites to a wedding reception because of the size of the ballroom.

Beyond that, the inductees will be limited to speeches of four minutes apiece. On second thought, this might be a good thing for Messier, even though it is a bad thing for the Kleenex industry the Captain has kept in the black throughout his hockey life.

"I'll get up and cry for four minutes and hopefully find a few seconds to get out a thank- you," said Messier, who is pictured wearing an Edmonton uniform in all the Hall- of- Fame related material that has been available here throughout the weekend.

Instead of holding the induction ceremony in the Hall of Fame's small theatre, it should be open to the public and conducted at the Air Canada Center.

Instead of inviting a small number of Hall of Famers to attend the Hall of Fame Game, as a dozen were invited to participate in a pre-game ceremony here before Saturday's Rangers-Leafs match, all living Hall of Famers should be invited to the induction ceremony at the arena.

Instead of limiting the speaking time for each inductee, all should be invited to speak from the heart for as long as their hearts desire.

Instead of being like hockey, in fact, the Hall of Fame induction cer emonies should be like baseball. But then, why would hockey want to be like baseball?

[RadioGaGa 162]

For those...in Canada...who are interested in seeing it, TSN Alternate Feed (Check your local listings) has it live.

[JR Boucicaut 3797]

CBC won't have it?

[Monty22 832]

Any online feed available? I'd like to be able to see Ronnie Franchise honored...

[RadioGaGa 162]

CBC won't have it?

Nope....Coronation Street @ 7:00...Fashion File @ 7:30...Dragons Den @ 8:00.

[JR Boucicaut 3797]

Damnit.

[RadioGaGa 162]

I would imainge that TSN will post some of the speeches and stuff after it airs on the broadband thingy.

[Viking 1]

I'd rather watch Dragon's Den than watch Messier cry, or watch the other guys be as exciting as wet dish rags.

[DarkStar50 679]

NHL Network carried it. I saw Messier's speech. He got close to hanky-time but didn't go all the way. He did a good job in reflecting on a Hall of Fame career and what it takes. His final words from Mike Richter about just playing the game and learning the life lessons of hockey are more important than who carries the Cup in June were good to hear. Its not just about winning, its about playing.

[RadioGaGa 162]

NHL Network carried it. I saw Messier's speech. He got close to hanky-time but didn't go all the way. He did a good job in reflecting on a Hall of Fame career and what it takes. His final words from Mike Richter about just playing the game and learning the life lessons of hockey are more important than who carries the Cup in June were good to hear. Its not just about winning, its about playing.

Obviously different in the States. We had Pittsburgh/Jersey on the NHL Network here.

TSN is re-showing it Wed night at 7:30 (before the Edm/Van game).

[#96 0]

Good catch JR, and good call Brooksie.

I agree on about 95% of what he said, however, Air Canada Center is where the Maple Leafs play, not where inductions for our game's greatest occur. This is really a closed door ceremony at the HHoF, across the street. To me, it's where it should take place. Those are hallowed halls and that's where they belong.

I understand that that names on the ballot were huge, this year. But year in and year out, it's usually not such a collection. So to make a change and do something Live - From Air Canada Center, would be kind of rude to the other guys that didn't get such coverage or such a huge venue, but their contributions to the game we love should be considered no less.

I don't think baseball or football have larger venues other than their respective Hall of Fame buildings. I could be wrong though.

I do agree the NHL should have worked harder to get, at least, more air time or something though. Not just for this group, but for all. This was a special lot, and my Congrats go to all of them...especially my boy, Moose! WOOHOO!

[Chadd 916]

I have to agree that the ACC isn't the right place to do it. Televising the ceremony from the HHOF would be the right thing to do, though. I also like the idea of having every living HHOF member there to welcome the new guys.

[DarkStar50 679]

They could certainly hold the ceremony in that monster center where the OneGoal Show took place last January in Toronto. You could put all 30 teams in the league in there, all the HOFers, half of Toronto!!! That place was huge. The ceremony last night looked like it took place in Jr. High School gymnasium all dressed up for a prom. It was way too small.

[Jason Harris 31]

He's partially right.

The HHOF is mostly in the lower floor of Brookstone Place (used to be BCE Place). i believe they have always held the ceremonies in the Hall, with the actual Induction in the Great Hall, but this year they expanded to the second floor due to the larger class. Ron Ellis talks about it in the video titled HHOF Induction with Gouche. I don't believe the HHOF wants the event to be much bigger. That's what the Legends Game is for. I believe the Hall wants the Induction to be more exclusive.

TSN recorded the festivities but only aired them live on their alternate station due to conflicts with MNF. Sadly, I don't believe ESPN would care about broadcasting the Induction, even if they still had the rights.

All of the Hall of Famers are invited to attend, but generally only those who live nearby or are associated with the inductees show. For instance, Lanny McDonald attended because he played with MacInnis, but Bourque, Neely and Roy weren't there. Borje Salming always plays in the Legends Game, so he was there, along with others who played int he game.

There is NO WAY the Coyotes should have been scheduled to play on Monday night. Gretzky should have been there, but somebody at the NHL offices botched that one.

Somebody made a great point during the speeches. He said people were still talking and partially listening when the first four inductees spoke, but as soon as Messier started speaking, it became silent.

29 Sports will be posting more interviews throughout the week. I even did a couple myself when Kerry told me to grab a mic and then interview the guy walking by. Talk about nervous! Most of these guys haven't played in so long that I really didn't know much about them. I was worried about coming across as "Really? You played in the NHL???"

[#96 0]

He's partially right.

The HHOF is mostly in the lower floor of Brookstone Place (used to be BCE Place). i believe they have always held the ceremonies in the Hall, with the actual Induction in the Great Hall, but this year they expanded to the second floor due to the larger class. Ron Ellis talks about it in the video titled HHOF Induction with Gouche. I don't believe the HHOF wants the event to be much bigger. That's what the Legends Game is for. I believe the Hall wants the Induction to be more exclusive.

TSN recorded the festivities but only aired them live on their alternate station due to conflicts with MNF. Sadly, I don't believe ESPN would care about broadcasting the Induction, even if they still had the rights.

All of the Hall of Famers are invited to attend, but generally only those who live nearby or are associated with the inductees show. For instance, Lanny McDonald attended because he played with MacInnis, but Bourque, Neely and Roy weren't there. Borje Salming always plays in the Legends Game, so he was there, along with others who played int he game.

There is NO WAY the Coyotes should have been scheduled to play on Monday night. Gretzky should have been there, but somebody at the NHL offices botched that one.

Somebody made a great point during the speeches. He said people were still talking and partially listening when the first four inductees spoke, but as soon as Messier started speaking, it became silent.

29 Sports will be posting more interviews throughout the week. I even did a couple myself when Kerry told me to grab a mic and then interview the guy walking by. Talk about nervous! Most of these guys haven't played in so long that I really didn't know much about them. I was worried about coming across as "Really? You played in the NHL???"

Why should Gretz have been there? It's not his night. He'd be stealing the other guys' thunder. Not to mention, he was a part of Messier's career, not Mac's, Stevens' or Gregory's. Mess was an outstanding player on his own, without Gretz around. Should Brodeur have been there for Stevens?

I don't agree with that point.

[DarkStar50 679]

Wayne Gretzky is too classy to steal the other guys' thunder on their night. He wouldn't let it happen. Besides, Gretzky and Lemieux should be at this event. Its like when the Yankees have Old-timer's Day, Joe D had to be there.

[Jason Harris 31]

Why should Gretz have been there? It's not his night. He'd be stealing the other guys' thunder. Not to mention, he was a part of Messier's career, not Mac's, Stevens' or Gregory's. Mess was an outstanding player on his own, without Gretz around. Should Brodeur have been there for Stevens?

I don't agree with that point.

I forget the words that Messier said, but it's obvious he has high esteem for Gretzky, so Gretz should have been there as a friend who won four cups with Messier.

Beyond that, the event wasn't set up in a way that other players could steal the inductees's thunder. I think the doors to One Yonge Place opened around 5:30, where the guests could congregate. Many of these were ex-players who were interviewed by TSN, while I believe the inductees were elsewhere. At 7:00, all the guests were ushered down the red carpet, where 29 Sports and Gretzky.com were interviewing; those with invites went to the area were the speeches were held, while everyone else went downstairs to the Hall. The speeches lasted to about 8:30, whereupon they paraded the inductees and Honoured Members into a room to sign their names. At that point, those that wanted milled with the crowd, while others slipped out the back door and went to private parties elsewhere.

It's obvious if Wayne had been there, he'd have just been another person sitting in the chairs listening to the speeches, so I don't see how he'd become the focus over the inductees.

[Langenbrunner15 0]

BTW, it was televied on the NHL Network..those with iO..channel 401 in my area (Northern NJ)

[Monty22 832]

BTW, it was televied on the NHL Network..those with iO..channel 401 in my area (Northern NJ)

I just stumbled across this channel last week- didn't even know I had it, or that it even exisited. Caught the induction. Definitly looked like a tiny room.

[Jason Harris 31]

They made it look smaller but it actually was a wide concourse on the ground level of the BCE Place. However, they've normally held it in the Great Room, which is small.

[Wolfpack_1986 154]

Why should Gretz have been there? It's not his night. He'd be stealing the other guys' thunder. Not to mention, he was a part of Messier's career, not Mac's, Stevens' or Gregory's. Mess was an outstanding player on his own, without Gretz around. Should Brodeur have been there for Stevens?

I don't agree with that point.

I gotta lol at Ronnie being left out. so typical, in that he was always the guy just doing his job in the shadows with little fanfare

[chk hrd 164]

I finally got around to watching the introductions. MacInnis, Stevens and Francis' speeches where all short and sweet...Messier on the other hand took us on a journey. I had to fast forward after half his speech. Even though Mes was doing his from the heart he should have limitted it to 1 1/2 days. :)

What a class of players to put in at one time.

[Jason Harris 31]

Kerry posted video of interviews we conducted at the Induction on his Capazoo page. You might need to create a membership to view them, but there are about 10 videos from the Induction.

They'll also be posted to 29sports as soon as his video man returns from vacation. There will also be quite a few interviews from the tradeshow at that time, including a few that JR conducted.